Margaret schofield



(No Model.)

M. SGHOFIELD. TOY.

No. 503,387. Patented'Aug. 15 1893.

Witnesses Unrrrnn TATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARGARET SCHOFIELD, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,387, dated August 15, 1893.

Application filed March 13, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LMARGARET SoHoFIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident Of Camden, New Jersey, have invented a certain Improved Toy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an attractive toy for children, said toy somewhat resembling the Well known return ball mounted upon an elastic cord, the ball, however, in my improved toy being composed of separable segments which are so combined with adj unctive devices that before the ball reaches the limit of its downward movement these segments will be caused to separate and spread upwardly, but will close together again and reform the ball before reaching the limit of upward movement on the return.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a view of the toy as it appears when the segments of the ball are closed. Fig. 2, is a sectionalview showingt-he segments separated and spread upwardly; and Fig. 3, is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

The ball is composed of a series of segments A hung at their upper ends to a ring a, each of these segments being so shaped that when they are closed together they will form aball, as shown in Fig. 1. Above the ball is a starshaped cap piece 13 of leather, cloth, or other flexible material, the points of this cap piece being connected to the respective segments of the ball, and to the center of the cap piece is connected the lower end of the cord 1) which is perfectly elastic, and is connected at the upper end to a ring I) or other attachment adapted to be held in the hand Inside of the ring a is another ring cl to which is secured a series of springs f, one for each of the segments A, the outer ends of these springs f being adapted to eyes 9 or other suitable connections on the inner sides of the segments, and the tendency of said springs being to retain the segments in the closed position, as against the tendency of the cord h and cap 13 to separate and raise the segments.

Suspended from the ring cl is a weight D and when the ball is thrown downward, this weight adds its momentum to that of the ball so that when the strain of the elastic cord 5 is exerted upon the cap piece B to restrict any further downward movement of the latter, the

Serial No. 465,686. (No model.)

momentum of the ball and weight is such as to carry the top portion of the ball still farther downward, so that the connection of the points of the cap piece with the segments of the ball causes the latter to separate and spread outward and upward against the action of the springs f. On the return or up ward movement of the ball, however, the force of momentum is exerted in the opposite direction and when the elastic cord has retracted to its full extent the ball and weight still continue to rise so that the springsf exert their force to close the segments of the ball; hence on each downward movement the segments will be spread apart like wings beforethe ball reaches the limit of such downward move ment, and on each upward movement the wings will be again folded together so as to form the closed ball, this folding and spread ing of the wings of the ball having a very pretty effect, especially if said wings are brightly colored, so that the toy is rendered extremely attractive to children.

If desired the suspended weight D may be in the form of a bird or other object, and it maybe so hung as to be caused to sway or flnt ter as it rises and falls, thus adding an additional element of attractiveness to the toy.

. Any suitable branching of the cord 1) at the lower end so as to connect with each of the segments A may be employed in place of the cap piece B, if desired, the use of the cap piece being preferred, however, as it serves the additional purpose of closing the opening at the top of the ball. The springs f and weight D may be hung to the ring a if desired, and those portions of the segments A which are at and near the hinge may in some cases be made so heavy as to effect the desired result without the use of the weight D, or, on the other hand, the outer portions of the segments maybe so heavy as to render the springs f unnecessary, although the use of both springs f and weight D is preferred.

In some cases it may be advisable to suspend from the ball I) or other available sup port a ring or, such as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to prevent the segments A from overlapping when they are closed together, and bells 3,1, such as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, may be suspended from the segments, if desired. As the ball has more than two segments, each segment is provided with meansfor attachment to the cord so as to insure the simultaneousseparation of all of the segments when the pull of the cordis exerted thereupon.

Having thus describe claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The within described toy, consisting of a ball composed of more than two separable seg ments hinged at their upper ends, and a sus pending cord connected at its lower end to each of said segments independently, substantially as specified.

2. The within described toy, consisting of a ball composed of more than two separable segments hinged at their upper ends, the suspending cord connected at its lower end to each of said segments independentlygand j springs tending to close the segments against each other, substantially as specified.

3. The within described toy, consistingof a ball composed of separable segments hinged at their upper ends, a suspending cord connected at its lower end to each of said seg ments independently, and a suspended weight moving with the ball but supported Within the same so as to be free from contact with the segments, the point of connection of the weight with each segment being above the point of connection of the cord therewith, substantially as specified. a

4. The within described toy, consisting of a ball composed of separable segments hinged suspending cord connected my invention, 1'

together attheir upper ends, a cap piece having fingers connected to said segments, and a substantially as specified.

to said cappiece,

5,. The ,Within described toy, consisting of a ball composed of more th an two separable seg ments hinged at their upper ends, and an elastic suspending cord connected at its lower tic suspending cord, a cap piece having fingers connected to the segments of the ball, a

ring to which the upper end of each of said segments is pivoted, a second ring carrying springs for acting upon the segments to close the same, and a weight suspendedfromsaid second ring, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARGARET SGHOFIELD. Witnesses:

ALICE SCHOFIELD, HARRY SMITH. 

